Monday, 3 July 2017

WE WILL NOT JOIN YOU IF NIGERIA SPLITS...MIDDLE BELT TELLS NORTH

A former Minister of Information and current National President of the
Middle Belt Forum, Prof. Jerry Gana, has told northerners preaching
division that if Nigeria breaks, the minorities in the Middle Belt will
not follow them.

Gana said this while delivering a sermon at the St.
Matthew’s Church, Maitama, Diocese of Abuja (Anglican Communion), in
Abuja on Sunday.

The Middle Belt is believed to have the largest number of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The former minister, who was the guest preacher, therefore, lambasted
the Coalition of Arewa Youth Groups for issuing a quit notice to Igbo
living in the North.

Gana said, “They think when it comes to
break-up, we will go along with the North. We have already told them
that if they allow this country to break up, we are not going with the
North. We are staying where we are. So, just take notice. If it comes to
that, we will tell you that you are Arewa and we are ‘Middle-Belters.’

“We love Nigeria and it was changed to a federal system because of the
minorities so that we can have a place. So, we love Nigeria but in the
unlikely event that people want to go their way, the Arewa in the Sahel
will go. But we will remain here in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The former minister also slammed a former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu
Bello University and the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum,
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, for supporting the quit notice issued by the
northern youths.

Gana said nobody had the right to dictate to a citizen of Nigeria where he could live.

He added, “One of them, who also spoke is a former vice-chancellor. I
thank God he didn’t sign my certificate. My own was signed by Prof.
Ishaya Audu. How can a man of that stature, of that status, of that
level of leadership, says he supports the youths in Kaduna to give to
other legitimate citizens, an order to go? Who are you? Who says that?

“In this country, there are no second-class citizens. We are all first
class. We are all sons and daughters of this land and that was why I
decided to call a conference of all the minorities from 14 states and we
had to state in clear words that the quit notice was totally
unconstitutional. This is our home.”

Gana said the way forward was
for the Federal Government to embrace restructuring as the solution to
the nation’s challenges or the nation would die.

Gana, who said even
former presidents were beginning to support restructuring, advised the
All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to entertain dialogue
and debate.

The ex-minister said, “In democracy, dialogue is the
language, consultation is the way. Two cannot work together unless they
agree. So, there needs to be dialogue and mutual respect.

“Anywhere
you have diversity of ethnicity or religion in the world, the type of
system that works is federalism. And that is the way. And each one must
build his federal system the way it suits him. It cannot be imposed; it
cannot be engineered in favour of one person.”

Meanwhile, a former
military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has urged Nigerians to shun
all forms of violence, criminal acts and behaviour capable of dividing
the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Gowon made the
call on Sunday in Sokoto at a one-day National Prayer Rally organised
by Nigeria Prays.

“We should value the lives of our fellow human
beings that God has created for a purpose. May we never take lives with
impunity.

“We are offering fervent prayers that Nigerians will never raise their hands against one another.
“They should love one another irrespective of religious, ideological, political and ethnic affinities,” he added.

Gowon, the National Convener, Nigeria Prays, appealed to Nigerians to
collectively pray for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also urged Nigerians to pray for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and leaders at all levels.

He solicited for sustained prayers for peace, unity and socio-economic prosperity of Nigeria.

Gowon said, “Prayer can solve problems better and faster than soldiers, as well as physical weapons of war.

“I have no doubt in my heart that God will honour our collective prayer
and intercession for our dear nation, as well as heal our nation of
insecurity.

“May we experience abundance of God’s mercy and showers
of blessings over our lives and our nation as we raise our voices in
heartfelt prayers today in Sokoto, ‘’ he said.

The North-West Zonal
Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, Bishop Godwin Okafor, said the rally was
organised to pray for sustained peace, unity and stability of Nigeria.